Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Market To Reach $124.81 Billion By 2030

Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Market Growth & Trends

The global pharmaceutical transportation services market size is expected to reach USD 124.81 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.71% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth of the market is mainly due to increasing demand for temperature sensitive drugs, expansion of pharmaceutical supply chain, and implementation of stringent guideline.

The growing use of biologics, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies has positively impacted the pharmaceutical transportation services market. Unlike conventional small-molecule drugs, biologics are highly sensitive to temperature variations and physical handling, requiring strict cold chain logistics to maintain product integrity. This demand has led to the proliferation of specialized refrigerated vehicles, cold storage warehouses, and packaging solutions that ensure uninterrupted temperature control throughout the shipping process. The rollout of large-scale vaccination programs, including COVID-19 vaccine distribution, demonstrated the critical importance of temperature-controlled transport and accelerated investment in cold chain infrastructure.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical companies are increasingly outsourcing manufacturing and distribution activities to contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) and contract logistics partners, further expanding global supply chains. These complex networks span across regions, creating a need for reliable, secure, and timely transportation services that meet both international and local regulatory standards. Drug components may be produced in one country, assembled in another, and distributed across multiple markets, necessitating synchronized logistics planning. As production decentralizes, the reliance on third-party logistics providers (3PLs) with expertise in navigating customs, documentation, and multi-modal transport has increased. Furthermore, emerging markets in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe have become important hubs for both manufacturing and consumption, increasing the frequency and volume of international pharmaceutical shipments.

Furthermore, several key competitors in the market, such as DHL, UPS Healthcare, FedEx Express, and Kuehne+Nagel, are actively expanding capabilities through strategic investments, partnerships, and technology adoption to gain market share. The rising demand for cold chain logistics has led these players to enhance their infrastructure and service offerings. For instance, in April 2025, DHL invested USD 2.27 billion in health logistics to strengthen its life sciences and healthcare logistics, aligning with its "Strategy 2030." Half of the investment targets the U.S., with the rest split between Asia Pacific and EMEA, expanding global infrastructure. This move reinforces DHL's role as a key competitor in providing integrated, patient-focused pharmaceutical transportation solutions.

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Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Market Report Highlights

• Based on type, the biopharmaceuticals segment dominated the market in 2024. The growth of this segment is largely attributed to the rising demand for efficient, secure, and compliant transportation solutions capable of handling biologics, gene therapies, and personalized medications.

• Based on the services, the air freight segment dominated the market in 2024. The growth of this segment is largely attributed to the increasing demand for rapid delivery of high-value, time-sensitive, and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical products.

• Based on the supply chain, the non-cold chain logistics segment dominated the market in 2024. The segment’s growth is due to the rising demand for medical devices, over the counter (OTC) drugs, and general pharmaceutical distribution.

Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global pharmaceutical transportation services market based on type, services, supply chain, and region:

Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Biopharmaceuticals

  • Vaccines

  • Biosimilars

  • Plasma Derived Products

  • Others

• Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceutical Transportation Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Air Freight

• Sea Freight

• Overland

Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Supply Chain Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Cold Chain Logistics

• Non-cold Chain Logistics

Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• North America

  • U.S.

  • Canada

  • Mexico

• Europe

  • UK

  • Germany

  • France

  • Italy

  • Spain

  • Denmark

  • Sweden

  • Norway

• Asia Pacific

  • Japan

  • China

  • India

  • Australia

  • South Korea

  • Thailand

• Latin America

  • Brazil

  • Argentina

• Middle East and Africa (MEA)

  • South Africa

  • Saudi Arabia

  • UAE

  • Kuwait 

List Of Key Players In The Pharmaceutical Transportation Services Market

• CEVA Logistics

• Cencora Corporation (ICS)

• DB SCHENKER

• Kuehne+Nagel

• Kerry Logistics Network Limited

• Cardinal Health

• McKesson Corporation

• EVERSANA

• Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Knipper Health

• FedEx

• DHL